Hand loom

ABSTRACT

A portable compactible hand loom includes an upstanding main frame, upper and lower spools rotatably and lockably mounted on the main frame and a tubular member tiltably mounted on the frame between the upper and lower spools, first and second elongated members in said tubular member in juxtaposed facing relationship, retaining means mounted on the tubular member for retaining said elongated members in juxtaposed facing relationship, each of said first and second members being connected at their adjacent ends to a heddle frame; the members being interconnected by a double ended lever connected through a shaft to a handle for producing relative movement of the first and second members, whereby a corresponding movement is produced in each frame to create a shed in a warp passing through the heddles for the passage of a weft.

[ Mar. 11, 1975 O United States Patent [191 Henwood HAND LOOM [76]Inventor: Charles Frederick llenwood, 7

Roosevelt Ave., Apt. 7, Montreal, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Aug. 3,1973 [21] Appl. No.: 385,470

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 8, 1972 Great Britain36967/72 52 US. Cl. 139/33 [51] Int. Cl .D03d 29/00 [58] Field of Search139/29-33;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,728 5/1916 Botts139/33 2,444,162 6/1948 Havice 139/33 2,696,838 12/1954 Purrington139/29 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon [57] ABSTRACT A portablecompactible hand loom includes an upstanding main frame, upper and lowerspools rotatably and lockably mounted on the main frame and a tubularmember tiltably mounted on the frame between the upper and lower spools,first and second elongated members in said tubular member in juxtaposedfacing relationship, retaining means mounted on the tubular member forretaining said elongated members in juxtaposed facing relationship, eachof said first and second members being connected at their adjacent endsto a heddle frame; the members being interconnected by a double endedlever connected through a shaft to a handle for producing relativemovement of the first and second members, whereby a correspondingmovement is produced in each frame to create a shed in a warp passingthrough the heddles for the passage of a weft.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED MARI 1 I975 sumsnr's HAND LOOMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to textile looms ofthe hand operated type.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a hand loomconstruction which may be easily operated with a minimum of instruction,and which can be used in the home and in occupational therapy.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loom which isrelatively portable and which will conform to a compact arrangement forcarrying.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a heddle frame foruse in a hand loom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention a loomcomprises a main frame, first and second heddle frames having heddlesmounted therein, movably mounted on said frame, first and secondmembers, said first member being connected to said first heddle frameand said second member being connected to said second heddle frame;retaining means for retaining said members in juxtaposed facingrelationship during relative movement thereof, and means for moving saidmembers simultaneously a predetermined distance in opposite directions,whereby a corresponding movement is produced in said heddle frames tocreate in use a shed in a warp passing through the heddles for thepassage of a weft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a loom;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the loom of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the loom of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of the loom of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a leaf spring;

FIG. 6 illustrates a heddle frame with heddles, and

FIG. 7 illustrates the loom of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a more compact position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings andparticularly with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a loom 10 is shown inassociation with a bobbin 11. The loom 10 comprises an upstanding mainframe 12, heddle frames 18 and 20 and a slide box 22.

The main frame 12 has a slot 24 defined in its upper end by means ofwhich the loom 10 can be carried; main frame 12 is mounted on a base 26having an integral upstanding flange 27 to which the main frame 12 isattached by a bolt.

A cord 106 is secured at one end to the base plate 26 its free end beingadapted to cooperate with a latch 107 to hold it securely.

An upper spool 28 on which the warp yarn 29 is wound is mounted on athreaded shaft'28b secured to the frame 12 and is held firmly by a wingnut 28a, and a lower spool 32 on which woven fabric is Wound is mountedon a threaded shaft 32b secured to the frame 12 and is held firmly by awing nut 32a. A breast bar 30 having a collar 31 at its extremity, and apeg 34 project from the frame 12. A spool handle 35 is mounted on upperspool 28and a spool handle 37 is mounted on lower spool 32.

The slide box 22 comprises upper and lower walls 23 and 25 and front andrear walls 123 and 125; slide box 22 is secured to frame 12 byconnections 101 and 102, which cooperate with rear wall 125 and aredescribed in greater detail below.

The slide box 22 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 has projecting from itand partially contained within it a first member 40 and a second member42 held in juxtaposed relation by wooden leaf springs 44, mounted byconventional means, for example. a nut and bolt connection to upper andlower walls 23 and 25. Mounted on each of members 40 and 42 is aprojection 46 of a generally triangular shape; the projections areinterconnected by a double-ended lever 48 mounted on a tapered shaft 50having a threaded outer end.

A circular hole 148 is defined in each end ofthe lever 48 through eachof which passes pin 146 connected to the triangular projections 46. v

A link 55, which is bolted to a handle 57 for operation of the loom isheld on the tapered shaft 50 by a nut fastened on the threaded portion.

Members 40 and 42 are connected, respectively, to heddle frames 18 and20 such that the simultaneous movement of members 40 and 42 in oppositedirections produces a corresponding movement in heddle frames 18 and 20.

Member 40 includes elongated recesses 59 in spaced apart relationshipalong its length; similar elongated recesses 61 are defined in member42. Each recess 59 faces a similar recess 61; contained between each ofa pair of facing recesses 59 and 61 is a nylon roller 63. The rollers 63are rotatably mounted on pins 63a and 63b respectively; pin 63a ismounted on rear wall 125 and pin 63b is mounted on shaft 50. The rollers63 provide smooth relative movement between members 40 and 42, anddefine the limits of relative movement of the members 40 and 42.Finally, the members 40 and 42 have channels 66 defined therein. Thechannels 66 are adopted to engage nylon rollers 65 mounted in the woodenleaf springs 44 at the extreme ends of relative movement of the members40 and 42.

With reference to FIG. 5 a wooden leaf spring 44 includes a spring arm77 and a head 79 in which is mounted, optionally. rotatably, nylonroller 65.

With reference to FIG. 6 a heddle frame 18 is a rigid three-sided frame68 composed of sides 68a and 68b and 68c; an elongated plate 69 isslidably mounted to form a fourth side of the frame 68 on a pair of rods71, which pass through holes in the plate 69, and corresponding bores inthe frame 68 in side 68b. Mounted in the frame 68 is a plurality ofheddles 70.

Each heddle 70 comprises straight portions 70a with an eyelet 72 in themiddle. At each end of the straight portions 700 there is a rod engagingmeans 73, which may suitably comprise a ring attached to the ends of thestraight portions 70a, or where the heddle 70 is produced by stampingfrom metal sheet may be formed unitarily with the straight portions 70a;the rod engaging means 73 slide on the rods 71 to mount the heddle 70 inthe frame 68.

Spacers 74 may be mounted on the rods 71 between the rod engaging means73 to produce a desired spacing between adjacent heddles 70.

A retainer 75 with a spring clip 75a is secured between the ends of therods 71 to prevent the plate 69 from sliding off during adjustment.

Secured to the ends of the frame 68 is a pair of studs 76 comprising abody portion 760 and a recessed portion 76b. The studs 76 are adapted topass through holes in the plate 69, and the plate'69 is held firmlyagainst the frame 68 by a clip 177, which engages the recessed portions76b; FIG. 6 shows a slightly exploded view of this.

With reference to FIG. 7 the loom is shown in a more compact positionwherein the slide box 22 and members 40 and 42 contained therein areheld at an angle to the horizontal working position. This position isachieved by removing connection 101, which suitably comprises a bolt101a adapted to cooperate with a threaded member 101b, for example, anut located in the rear wall 125 of the slide box 22. Connection 102suitably comprises a nut 102a and bolt 102b, the head of the bolt l02bbeing secured in the rear wall 125 of the slide box; loosening of thenut 1020 on the bolt 102b permits the slide box to rotate on the bolt102b to the more compact position shownin FIG. 7 for carrying andstorage.

The bolt 101a may suitably be passed through holes in the ends of themembers 40 and 42.

In the compact position illustrated in FIG. 7, a part of the rear wall125 is held in a space between the upper spool 28 and the, frame 12;this space is formed by enlarging the space 100 shown in FIG. 3 bydisplacing the upper spool 28 on its threaded mounting shaft 28a byunfastening the wing nut 28a by an appropriate amount. The wing nut 28acan then be lightly fastened to hold the rear wall 125 and hence theslide box 22, firmly in the compact position.

In addition to the compact position illustrated in FIG. 7, the loom canbe further compacted by removing the base plate 26 and securing it inface-to-face relationship with the frame 12. This is achieved byunfastening the bolt, securing flange 27 of the base plate 26 to theframe 12 and fastening the base plate 26 to the frame 12 by means of thesame bolt through a hole (not shown) in the base plate 26. In addition,the handle 57 can be readily dismantled and held between the base plate26 and the frame 12 in the compact position.

In operation, the warp yarn 29 is fed from upper spool 28 over breastbar 30 to the heddle frames 18 and 20. The warp yarn 29 is fed throughheddle frame 18 so that a first yarn passes through the space betweenthe first two adjacent heddles 70 and an adjacent yarn is passed throughthe eyelet 72 of the second heddle 70 and so on such that a first set ofalternate yarns pass through spaces between heddles 70 and a second setof alternate yarns pass through eyelets 72. When the yarns are passedthrough heddle frame 20, the positions of the yarns are changed so thatthe first yarn passes through an eyelet 72 and the adjacent yarn passesthrough a space between two heddles 70. Thus each strand passes througha space between two heddles 70 in one of the heddle frames 18 and and aneyelet 72 in the heddles 70 in the other of the heddle frames 18 and 20.

Feeding of the warp yarn 29 through the heddles 70 in the heddle frames18 and 20 is facilitated by displacement of plate 69 on rods 71 so thatthe heddles 70 may be separated.

When the warp yarn 29 has passed through the heddles 70 of heddle frames18 and 20, the yarns are tied m together at their ends, passed under peg34 and wound on the lower spool 32.

The collar 31 prevents the warp yarn from sliding over the edge ofbreast bar 30.

The free end of the cord 106 is secured with the latch 107 to provide aloop. The operator of the loom holds the loom firmly by inserting hisfoot in the loop and applying pressure after adjustment of the looplength to his requirements.

An up and down movement of handle 57 produces a simultaneous andopposite movement in first and second members 40 and 42 through thedouble-ended lever 48; during the movement the pins 146 contact and movealong the portion of the circumference of the holes 148 adjacent theends of lever 48, the edge of each hole 148 pushes on the contacting pin146 and helps to keep the members 40 and 42 in engagement with therollers 63.

The movement of members 40 and 42 produces an equivalent movement inheddle frames 18 and 20 whereby a shed 74 is produced in the warp yarn29 through which the bobbin 11 containing the weft yarn 33 is passed.The procedure is repeated with the bobbin 11 being passed through theshed 74 formed each time that the relative position of heddle frames 18and 20 is changed by movement of the handle 57.

The woven fabric thus formed is wound onto the lower spool 32 byunfastening wing nut 32a and rotating lower spool 32 on its shaft 32b bymeans of spool handle 37. Fresh warp yarn 29 is unwound from upper spool28 by unfastening wing nut 28a and rotating upper spool 28 on its shaft28b by means of spool handle 35.

It will be apparent that the loom according to the invention can beoperated without difficulty by relatively inexperienced people.

I claim:

1. A portable compactible hand loom comprising a main frame, first andsecond heddle frames, having heddles mounted therein, movably mounted onsaid frame, first and second members, said first member being connectedto said first heddle frame and said second member being connected tosaid second heddle frame; said first and second members having facingsides with facing recesses defined therein and a roller member containedin said facing recesses; retaining means for retaining said members injuxtaposed facing relationship during relative movement thereof, andmeans for moving said members simultaneously a predetermined distance inopposite directions, whereby a corresponding movement is produced insaid heddle frames, to create in use a shed in a warp passing throughthe heddles for the passage of a weft.

2. A loom according to claim 1 wherein said first and second memberspass through and extend from a hollow open ended member mounted on saidmain frame and said retaining means are mounted on upper and lowersurfaces of said hollow open ended member.

3. A loom according to claim 2 wherein each of said retaining meanscomprises an elongated spring arm mounted at one end to said hollow openended member, the other end of said arm including a retaining headcontaining means adapted to engage said first and second membersrespectively, said first and second members each having a groove definedtherein for receiving said means at the predetermined extremities ofrelative movement of said first and second members thereby defining theextremities of relative movement of said first and second members.

4. A loom according to claim 2 wherein a spool for holding warp yarn isrotatably mounted on said main frame on a shaft connected to said mainframe, said spool being displaceable along said shaft to define anenlarged space between said spool and said main frame; said hollow openended member being tiltable between a working position and a compactposition wherein a portion of said hollow member is retainable in saidenlarged space.

5. A portable compactible hand loom comprising an upstanding main frame,upper and lower spools rotatably and lockably mounted on said mainframe. a tubular member tiltably mounted on said main frame between saidupper and lower spools, first and second elongated members in saidtubular member in juxtaposed facing relationship, retaining meansmounted on said tubular memberfor retaining said elongated members injuxtaposed facing relationship, each ofsaid first and second membersbeing connected at their adjacent ends to a heddle frame; said membersbeing interconnected by a double ended lever connected through a shaftto a handle for producing relative movement of said first and secondmembers, whereby a corresponding movement is produced in each heddleframe to create a shed in a warp passing through the heddles, for thepassage of a weft.

6. A loom according to claim 5 wherein facing sides of said first andsecond members have facing recesses defined therein, and a roller membercontained between said facing recesses for smooth relative movement ofsaid members.

7. A loom according to claim 6 wherein each of said heddle framescomprises a frame, having two exposed ends, a pair of spaced apart rodsmounted in said frame, a member slidably mounted on said rods adapted tocontact said exposed ends, holding means for holding said member incontact with said exposed ends; a plurality of spaced apart heddles eachhaving an eyelet therein and a rod engaging means at each extremity,said heddles being mounted on said rods by means of said rod engagingmeans.

8. A loom according to claim 7 wherein said holding means comprises apair of studs extending from said exposed ends of said frame throughholes defined in said member each stud having means therein for engaginga part of an elongated clip adapted to hold said member.

1. A portable compactible hand loom comprising a main frame, first andsecond heddle frames, having heddles mounted therein, movably mounted onsaid frame, first and second members, said first member being connectedto said first heddle frame and said second member being connected tosaid second heddle frame; said first and second members having facingsides with facing recesses defined therein and a roller member containedin said facing recesses; retaining means for retaining said members injuxtaposed facing relationship during relative movement thereof, andmeans for moving said members simultaneously a predetermined distance inopposite directions, whereby a corresponding movement is produced insaid heddle frames, to create in use a shed in a warp passing throughthe heddles for the passage of a weft.
 1. A portable compactible handloom comprising a main frame, first and second heddle frames, havingheddles mounted therein, movably mounted on said frame, first and secondmembers, said first member being connected to said first heddle frameand said second member being connected to said second heddle frame; saidfirst and second members having facing sides with facing recessesdefined therein and a roller member contained in said facing recesses;retaining means for retaining said members in juxtaposed facingrelationship during relative movement thereof, and means for moving saidmembers simultaneously a predetermined distance in opposite directions,whereby a corresponding movement is produced in said heddle frames, tocreate in use a shed in a warp passing through the heddles for thepassage of a weft.
 2. A loom according to claim 1 wherein said first andsecond members pass through and extend from a hollow open ended membermounted on said main frame and said retaining means are mounted on upperand lower surfaces of said hollow open ended member.
 3. A loom accordingto claim 2 wherein each of said retaining means comprises an elongatedspring arm mounted at one end to said hollow open ended member, theother end of said arm including a retaining head containing meansadapted to engage said first and second members respectively, said firstand second members each having a groove defined therein for receivingsaid means at the predetermined extremities of relative movement of saidfirst and second members thereby defining the extremities of relativemovement of said first and second members.
 4. A loom according to claim2 wherein a spool for holding warp yarn is rotatably mounted on saidmain frame on a shaft connected to said main frame, said spool beingdisplaceable along said shaft to define an enlarged space between saidspool and said main frame; said hollow open ended member being tiltablebetween a working position and a compact position wherein a portion ofsaid hollow member is retainable in said enlarged space.
 5. A portablecompactible hand loom comprising an upstanding main frame, upper andlower spools rotatably and lockably mounted on said main frame, atubular member tiltably mounted on said main frame between said upperand lower spools, first and second elongated members in said tubularmember in juxtaposed facing relationship, retaining means mounted onsaid tubular member for retaining said elongated members in juxtaposedfacing relationship, each of said first and second members beingconnected at their adjacent ends to a heddle frame; said members beinginterconnected by a double ended lever connected through a shaft to ahandle for producing relative movement of said first and second members,whereby a corresponding movement is produced in each heddle frame tocreate a shed in a warp passing through the heddles, for the passage ofa weft.
 6. A loom according to claim 5 wherein facing sides of saidfirst and second members have facing recesses defined therein, and aroller member contained between said facing recesses for smooth relativemovement of said members.
 7. A loom according to claim 6 wherein each ofsaid heddle frames comprises a frame, having two exposed ends, a pair ofspaced apart rods mounted in said frame, a membEr slidably mounted onsaid rods adapted to contact said exposed ends, holding means forholding said member in contact with said exposed ends; a plurality ofspaced apart heddles each having an eyelet therein and a rod engagingmeans at each extremity, said heddles being mounted on said rods bymeans of said rod engaging means.